JETpilot76 Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 (edited) Hi all. Not sure if any one has had this problem but I have recently purchased a fine running 1992 Legacy but the brake fluid keeps needing to be refilled. I traced the leak down to a ABS hydraulic control unit leakage. If you are standing at the hood, the back right screw area literally squirts any time more than 50% brake is applied. It's getting to the point to where I need to stop on the way home and refill it if traffic is bad and I have to brake a lot. I've tried torquing it down more, but it seems to just piss the little gremlin inside off more and more fluid seems to get released. Anybody have any fixes that doesn't involve installing a new unit that costs 2x the amount I paid for the car? Thanks in advance for the help. Oh and a quick edit. If worse case happens and I have to buy another unit, any one know what years would be compatible? Edited May 29, 2011 by JETpilot76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 i would remove the problem fitting, trace the threads on the brake line fitting with a die and the threads in the ABS block with a tap. then rethread it. should be fine if you do that. unfortunately with multiple lines you'll probably have to remove the entire thing to do that, but they're not that hard to get too - you'll just have to bleed the system once you're done. but even that's not the end of the world. you could just try tightening it, but i wouldn't do that unless it just happens to seem really loose and turns easily. the control units almost never fail, so buying new would be nearly idiotic (sorry, just being honest). get a used one, there's no demand since they never fail so they're hardly worth more than $25 or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 the easiest and most economical thing to do would be to salvage one at a junkyard that you can pull yourself. They are all over the place and rarely fail. i imagine you can get one for about 30 bucks offer I have seen non-abs legacy brighton, and it has a little junction block in place of the abs unit, and the junction block looks identical to the ones in the back of ea82 and ea81 subarus near the gas tank to split the lines to the rear wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 The scrap yard was my initial thought. Was just worried about getting an old one with the same problem. Glad to hear it's a rare problem. Can I use one from a different year or is it year specific? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 I think I have one, if you can send a picture of yours. Larry Lmdew@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 not real familiar with 92's but something like this won't be year specific. they're usually used in multiple years/models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share Posted May 30, 2011 Well that's good to know about the years. Thank you for the all replies. Now the next task is finding one and having someone with more skill than myself install it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 if you're just going to install another one - first i'd try tightening the existing fitting. all it is is like a 10 mm (i think) wrench or flare wrench. just tighten it and see what happens. might be loose and snugging it up does the trick, nothing to loose to try it. without seeing it, it's hard to say, but it's hard to imagine there being anything "wrong" with the connection there, it's not like it's magic or crazy technical stuff going on there - it's just basic fastener stuff. snug it up. if it doesn't work, then move on with the new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share Posted May 30, 2011 I tried that about a week ago and it worked a little bit. But was still leaking. As bad as this sounds I would try to keep a little air in the lines because when it was fully bled and the pedal pressed the pressure build up would shoot it through the leaking area. Tried tightening it again and it didn't help at all. So I am now looking for a replacement part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 I've tried torquing it down more, but it seems to just piss the little gremlin inside off more and more fluid seems to get released. hmmm, if torqueing it down more seems to aggrivate the problem - i have to wonder if perhaps the end of the line itself isnt cracked or damaged somehow??? IF that is the case, then replacing the ABS unit will not solve the problem i honestly have a hard time believing that the unit itself is the cause of this problem...i would be more inclined to believe it is a line/fitting problem. Before spending ANY money, any where, I would unscrew the problem fitting and inspect it closely, also inspect the housing where the fitting goes in...check both for cracks, gouges, pin holes, dirt/debris, etc...anything that could potentially cause it to leak my money is on a bad line/fitting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share Posted May 30, 2011 (edited) I took a look at the fittings and unless it is tucked away somewhere where I can't get a good look at it, I don't think it's it. I'll have to go find a small mirror to inspect underneath it, but it seems like all the fitting are on the top. Maybe I have misspoke as to the unit name. But the module itself has a black box with big white ABS lettering on it and with maybe four black hyd lines coming out the side of it leading to this golden colored box about twice the size of the black box. Only labeling I can find on it is "Nippon." But on this golden tinted box there are the 4 screws that go through it and then bolt down to a bottom plate. The one on the back right leaks out of the bottom of the unit where the screw comes out. I don't know if I accurately described it or not, but my mechanical skills and knowledge are obviously limited. And Larry I sent you an email about the part. Please let me know if that's what you have or not. Thank you. This is what the piece that is driving me insane looks like. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ABS-PUMP-Legacy-1990-90-1991-91-/150505510049?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item230ad3d4a1 The third pic, the screw in the upper left corner. Edited May 30, 2011 by JETpilot76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I'll have to dig a little to see if that is the one. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 ok, i am sorry, i apparently misunderstood you. I thought it was a brake line fitting that was leaking. Good luck - hope you can get the problem resolved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 I wish it was just a brake line fitting. Now knowing the part I was trying to describe, do you know if those things are still not prone to failures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 if Larry doesn't have one, these guys have one in San Antonio TX for $35. call them and have it shipped. it's the Nippon variety. 1-800-611-7876 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 I purchased the part from the place in San Antonio and had it installed. Tried out the brakes and it has the same exact problem! I was wrong about where the fluid was coming from though. I originally thought it was coming from a screw hole, but it was actually coming from a cylinder on the bottom and just spraying the screw when it leaked. Is it just bad luck or is this a problem with these units? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 you must have a dark cloud hanging over you - sorry to hear about the same problem...honestly have never heard of problems leaking - power issues, yes, but leaking, no is this "cylinder" part of the ABS unit? can you possibly get pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 I've taken plenty of pics trying to show the problem area, but I just can't figure out how to post them. Guess cars are not the only thing I'm inept at. I can email them if you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 do you have a photobucket or similar account?? (online picture hosting) if not open one - photobucket is free, as are several others upload your pics to your pic account there, then use the link for message boards to post here (copy link and paste into your post here) or if it would be easier you can email them to me and i can post them for you - your choice heartless500 at gmail dot com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 Sorry for the delay in the pics. I had a trip and then thought I had another unit found but was sent a Bosch unit rather than a Nippon. But the pics here show the unit. I have a pen pointing to the area where it is leaking. The pen is pointing at a bolt, but it's actually squirting out at the cylinder behind the bolt under that same lip area. This part number is a Nippon 26731 AA002. I've found another place that has one but he's charging 2.5 times what the first was charging. Adding in the labor costs and this thing is getting expensive quick. It's a shame because the car drives great, it's just this problem that refuses to go away! But thanks again for every ones help so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I'll check when i get back to COS. $60 shipped, work for you? Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETpilot76 Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 That works for me. Just let me know. Is there something on the car that can be causing these things to fail? I'm the second owner and finding little bit and pieces of things missing already. Is there a part that the previous owner could have replaced with the wrong part that could be causing the failures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Not that I know of. If the ABS was not working the Light should be on. It just dumps brake pressure, if it's off all pressure is routed to the brakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I do not have one but I could pull one from the yard in CO. Let me know if you want me to do that. I'm going Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I got one and then instead of $20 they wanted $65 so I told the yard they could keep it. So much for that adventure. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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